Kirkcaldy woman is online sensation

Neil Henderson

What started out as online fun for one Kirkcaldy woman has quickly turned her into a internet sensation with millions tuning in to watch her videos.

L J Cleave started posting comedy and music videos online from her home in Forth Park, Kirkcaldy eight months ago, but already she has attracted nearly half a million followers and received over14 million ‘likes’ in that time.

And her daily ‘wake up’ live video streaming regularly attracts around 100,000 viewers from across the globe.

So popular is her online work becoming,the 22-year-old is now being stopped in the street in her home town by people recognising her and wanting a photograph.

And only last month, she was invited the organisers of the Summer In The City festival – a major online convention in London – to meet and greet fans.

Aimed primarily at the school and teenage age group, L J puts her popularity down to the positive nature of her videos which are broadcast on the online hosting site Music.ly.

“It’s a fun and safe way for young people to make friends as part of an online community,” she told the Fife Free Press.

“As well as making music and comedy videos, I conduct Q&A sessions and discuss everything from school and homework, to make up and issues surrounding body image

“Because I’m a bigger size myself I want to be a good influence and convey a positive message to my followers.

“My message is ‘individuality is the key to happiness’, people can feel good about how they look, body positivity is very important.”

With as many as six videos a day as well as her wake up live broadcast and regular advice and interactive sessions with followers, L J is finding that when not at work – she is a care worker for adults with learning difficulties, or running regular dance sessions – her new found fame is taking up most of her spare time.

“I can’t quite believe it, I stumbled across this sort of thing online and thought it looked like good fun, I never knew it would get so popular.”

But with nearly 10,000 new followers a day tuning in and even her 13-year-old sister Ria and best friend Jordan Stevens, who feature in L J’s videos, now having her own followings, the sky’s the limit.

“As long as I’m enjoying it and others are too I’ll keep it fresh and see how far I can take it, it’s great fun,” she said.

It seems there’s never a spare minute for Kirkcaldy based internet sensation LJ Cleave since she started posting her videos online in January.

The 22-year-old former student at Fife College where she gained a HND in musical theatre.

She’s no stranger to the small screen having previously appeared as a continuous extra in award winning TV drama series Waterloo Road for a year.